AXE and WEDGE

03/17/2026

Hello Friends,

There’s a moment every year when the air shifts just enough that you start thinking about spring, then summer quickly follows, and before long we’re rolling toward fall and the quiet comfort of a full woodshed. That moment is arriving again.

At Axe & Wedge we cut and split firewood through the spring and summer so it has plenty of time to dry and season properly before the cold weather arrives. When wood is stacked early, it dries better, burns cleaner, and makes those winter fires far more enjoyable.

If you’ve ordered from us before, you already know the difference good firewood makes. A properly seasoned stack means warm evenings, steady heat, and the simple pleasure of a fire that burns the way it should.

That’s why we encourage customers to order their wood now rather than waiting until fall. By getting it stacked on your property early in the season, the wood has months of airflow and sunshine to finish seasoning before you start burning. Now is the best time to order. Early orders allow us to schedule deliveries while our stacks are full and the weather is still cooperative. Orders have already begun trickling in.

Fall always feels like firewood season, but in reality good firewood is prepared months before the first fire is lit.

If you know you’ll want wood for the coming season, now is the perfect time to get on the schedule. Consider this your friendly “check your woodshed” reminder.

You can place an order anytime at:

www.axeandwedge.com

Warmly,
The Woodman

05/09/2024

Olga Rising has rounded the sun one more time (photo above taken 05/11/2022)! The response from this community has been incredibly humbling and supportive - it’s the main reason we are still here approaching our second year anniversary. Thank you. When I say that I am grateful for all of you who supported us - I can't begin to explain how fortunate we feel. I could talk about all the behind the scene hurdles that were challenging this last year so you could really understand how hard this year was but I will leave that to your imagination. I had a front row seat to the definition of zeal, commitment and creativeness. While preserving a funky old building (old island style) that holds what I would consider incredible potential in its four tiny walls we all have become something more, something indescribably groovy. Arriving at our two year anniversary (Saturday May 11th) is the result of an overwhelming amount of dedication from an incredible crew of humans that make up the Olga Rising team.

These past few years have been incredibly hard for Orcas and its restaurant scene. It saddens me that the tapestry has changed, but I am also excited to see new beginnings even if it hurts us. We need choices and diversity. There's no single reason why restaurants and cafes fail. It's a combination of factors, such as poor cash flow, low profit margins, inexperience, location, extreme overhead, disorganization and high staff turnover, that contribute to this demise. Out here in these islands dream crushing comes to a completely different level (higher), with all of those variables the island adds even more with housing shortages, delivery disruption due to the ferries, slow winters, extreme costs of living and even higher prices for wholesale ingredients that eat away at those profit margins at a considerable pace. It is daunting, humbling and overwhelming all at the same time. You have to live and breathe this lifestyle - it has to almost consume you. Not everyone wants to dive this deep into something that can pull you under. Not everyone can.

I am humbled everyday by being a small business owner. But on May 11th - I want to take a moment and celebrate this wild ride. I want to celebrate our staff that is instrumental in our success. I want to thank the community for helping us get here. I want to take a day and not worry about what tomorrow will bring. I invite you to come down to Olga Rising (this Saturday May 11th) and have a slice of cake (11am-3pm) and enjoy this moment with us!

To the Olga Rising Team - I am so proud of each and everything we have done to get here today, you have kept me grounded, inspired and going. Thank you for being a part of "us", because I couldn’t/wouldn’t do this without you.

06/21/2023

Donating to this is about more then a store - it’s about a family that has roots that grow deep into our island soil. It’s about helping islanders that need help, it’s about thwarting the wave of changes about to happen and supporting what matters (an island family) in this place we call home. Please read. Please donate. 💗

Please help us save our family business!!! Our family has been operating Orcas… Erica Lyons needs your support for Please Help Save Orcas Arts and Gifts!

05/09/2023

https://leelefever.com/the-wood-shed/

This put me on a course to making the most of our wood and one big idea stood out: we needed a wood shed. Firewood burns hotter and cleaner when it’s dry and dry wood comes from wood that can…

12/27/2022

Each and everyone of the team members at Olga Rising is unique like a handspun fiber. They provide a piece of the colorful tapestry that has made us an incredibly beautiful small business. I am incredibly proud of each and everyone of the humans that work their hearts out at Olga Rising. Somehow this miracle was created and then miraculously it continued to thrive weaving itself into something none of us imagined.

The sunlight is shortening as we float into the darkest parts of winter. All of the Olga Rising crew has talked amongst each other and decided together that with January approaching we want to take short hikes in the light, curl up for a few days and read a book, we want to visit places and see things that we haven't been able to -because as much as we all adore Olga Rising - Olga Rising takes a ton of dedication from each and everyone of us.

With light in our hearts we ask that all of our devoted followers to please understand Olga Rising will go into hibernation for a month, it needs to. It's time for our staff to really take a holiday that allows for rejuvenation and selfcare. We all agree that when we come back we will be recharged and ready -with hope, determination and new colors to add to our tapestry.

Olga Rising will rise then. It will be nice to catch our breath, visit friends and family, give time to ourselves, time to reboot and of course think of the things we can do better in the new year.

From the crew at Olga Rising we wish you the happiest of holidays, excellent health and peace in your hearts. We encourage you to take the time to take care of yourself and if you can - take those hikes in the light. Make time for yourself so you can keep your colors bright in 2023, like we plan to do.

Cheers!

❤️ The Olga Rising Family ❤️

12/02/2022

Since Hunter passed away it’s been weird not having a shadow anymore.

Welcome Angus - our new wood dog.

04/19/2022

Wood delivery season is moving right along! One of my customers sent me this today.

02/03/2022

My daughter’s farm stand was mentioned here! 💛

Looking for the best things to do on Orcas Island in Washington? From epic hikes to where to eat, here are 13 ways to soak up the magic.

01/19/2022

Happy New Year from Axe & Wedge!

Winters here on the island are incredibly special, especially one that gets a few snow days. I feel like that is when we as island residents really come together. That is when even those introverted cabin dwellers come out and linger to chat and when you go to the market; when you recognize people w...

12/26/2021

Happy Holidays!